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Tuesday, 29 March 2016

Upcoming EventsEnvironmentally Conscious Decision-Making, Mar. 29
Dr. John Giesy, Professor of Environmental Psychology, will be leading a discussion on Life in a Toxic World: Environmentally Conscious Decision-Making at Tox on Tap at 7 pm, Mar. 29.

Protecting the Swale, Apr. 1
The Northeast Swale is on the agenda for the Apr. 1 Meewasin Valley Authority board meeting. There are plans to convert Central Avenue into a four-lane, divided arterial route across the Northeast Swale connecting with the four-lane North Commuter Parkway. The City of Saskatoon estimates that these two thoroughfares, together with Lowe Road, will carry between 26,000 and 67,000 vehicles (possibly more) across the Swale each day, bringing noise, disruption, and danger. The public is invited to make written or oral presentations.

Ecological Economics, Apr. 6
Dr. Brett Dolter, VP Research and Education, Canadian Society for Ecological Economics, will be speaking at the Apr. 6 breakfast meeting of the Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Force.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Wings Over Wascana Fundraising Dinner, May 11 (Regina)
Friends of Wascana Marsh are holding a fundraising dinner on May 11 to support the Wings Over Wascana festival. Christy Morrissey is the keynote speaker.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

The City of Saskatoon has released its Recreation & Parks Master Plan. Under Infrastructure, it states, “The river valley is a valued resource, and continued support of the Meewasin Valley Authority is important. Preserving and protecting natural areas and trails within the city allows residents to connect to nature, while also providing opportunities for recreational and active transportation.”

Jumbo Wild is now out on Netflix, documenting the lengthy battle between developers and environmentalists in BC’s backcountry.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

Monday, 14 March 2016

Two local groups are urging Saskatoon residents to speak out and help protect the Northeast Swale, native prairie rich in wildlife and plants.

Act Regionally
A plan that will determine land use around Saskatoon for the next 60 years is going forward for approval this month. Candace Savage (Wild About Saskatoon, Northeast Swale Watchers) is urging everyone to complete the online survey set up by the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth.

Candace suggests considering the following points: “The reserve along the river should be wider, with public access throughout. Similarly, the conservation/drainage areas need to be more generous, including the corridors that connect the networks. This will improve their function both for water management and biodiversity. The big park space around Wanuskewin, on both sides of the river, is an excellent idea and deserves support. The plan builds in the idea of ‘complete communities,’ with jobs close to where people live, another plus.”

Act Locally
The City of Saskatoon can play an important role in protecting the Northeast Swale. Saskatoon’s Northeast Swale Watchers are recommending that the City take the following steps to protect the Swale. They recommend you share this information with your City Councillor.

"An integrated City-administered Swale Buffer Plan, parallel to the MVA NE Swale Master Plan,
should be implemented since the surrounding City development creates disruptions and
pollutants that will potentially affect and degrade the Swale. This Plan should include, as a
minimum, all points below.

1. Include Petursson's Ravine and Central Avenue Crossing within the Swale as indicated in the
MVA Northeast Swale Master Plan.

2. Insist that the Province relocate the Perimeter highway to Clark's Crossing to go around the
Swale within the Greater Saskatoon area region.

4. Eliminate bottlenecks for safe wildlife passage, modelling from Edmonton's Wildlife Passage
Guidelines, and ensure that there is an ecological network in place to enable the wildlife to move
unimpeded from the river through the Swale and back.

5. Ensure that wildlife crossings over roads and small animal crossings under roads are designed
and installed for all roadways. The success of these crossings should be monitored.

6. Ensure that traffic-calming measures, including an enforced 50 kph speed limit, are
implemented on all roads through the Swale.

7. Ensure that there is minimum damage to the Northeast Swale and Small Swale during road
and neighbourhood construction. Follow the City’s Predevelopment Protocol and the MVA’s
Construction Protocols (articulated under the revised Development Review process) in a
proactive way that includes environmental monitors with stop work authority.

8. Ensure that the MVA has sufficient funding to finance the MVA Northeast Swale Master
Plan and expand the Master Plan to include the Small Swale.

9. Enact long-term legal protection of the Northeast Swale and the Small Swale though a
change to the Zoning bylaw though a special designation mandated by City Council.

10. Ensure that the UH3 area is either not developed, or that the current design is scrapped and
redeveloped as a model sustainable community as suggested in Moriyama's 100-Year Plan. The
current plan does not support designated environmental reserve lands that should be in excess of
the minimal 10 per cent for parks, playing field etc. and does not allow for an efficient public
transportation plan.

11. Ensure that the storm water handling systems do not allow contaminants to enter the
adjacent wetlands. They are experimental so careful monitoring will be needed, especially since
regulations for the Pesticide Use policy and the Wetlands policy are not in place.

12. Ensure that environmental protection policies are coordinated and adopted with the P4G
group through the Saskatoon North Regional Study for the entire Swale region."

Get Involved
To find out more or to get involved, be sure to attend a screening of Paving Paradise and the follow-up discussion on April 18. The Swale is about to be “sliced and diced” with roads – is that really what is best for Saskatoon’s future?

The Messenger, Mar. 16 The Messenger, “an ode to the beauty and importance of imperilled songbirds,” will be shown at the Broadway Theatre on Mar. 16. U of S Professor Christy Morrissey is featured in the film and will be speaking at the screening.

“Akin to the disappearance of the honeybee or the melting of glaciers, the film argues that the global demise of songbirds signals an uncertain shift in an already fragile ecosystem and explores our deep-seated connection to birds, while warning that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own.”

EcoBash, Mar. 19EcoBash, with music and speakers, is being held at 8 pm, Mar. 19. Proceeds will go to support the development of an interpretive trail system through NCC's Asquith North conservation area.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

NewsThe Prairie Naturalist (Regina)
Join Jared Clarke for a live, bi-weekly radio show, The Prairie Naturalist, on CJTR 91.3 FM, Regina, Thursdays from 6-6:30 pm. The show will also be available as a podcast.

Emerging Leaders for Solar EnergyEmerging Leaders for Solar Energy Saskatchewan Chapter (ELSE SK) is an organization for young professionals and students founded by the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA). Its purpose is to engage young Canadians from industry, government, non-profit, and academia in shaping a brighter energy future for Canada.

The ELSE SK chapter will focus on engaging Saskatchewan’s students and young professionals in public education, networking, training, and advocacy relevant to the solar industry in Saskatchewan. They'll be meeting at 5:30 pm, Mar. 1.

EcoSask News is a weekly round-up of local news and events. Email us if you have items you would like us to include. You can follow EcoFriendly Sask by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or by email (top right corner).

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About

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

EcoFriendly Sask strives to inform, encourage, and support Saskatchewan environmental initiatives. As a small, personal undertaking, we provide an online publication as well as grants to support local environmental projects. The Calendar page lists upcoming events, and we maintain the conversation on Twitter, or like our Facebook.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $500 to support local projects that will benefit the environment.